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Latin & Tango

“Tango must always be interpreted in terms of human emotions. It has a human voice. That is why we must bring forth the sound that accurately expresses those emotions.” — Osvaldo Pugliese

“Music has the power to bring forth the resonant harmony of the heart, transcending differences in appearance, differences in language, differences in culture, or differences in civilization.” – Daisaku Ikeda
Translated from Japanese, Ikeda Daisaku zenshu (The Complete Works of Daisaku Ikeda), vol. 108, pp. 230–31, (1997).

Latin music, found in Central and South America, is a series of musical styles and genres that typically mixes influences from Spanish, African and indigenous sources. A variety of rich musical cultures and different flavors of music unique to each individual Latin American country, however, has been developed during a span of a few hundred years, each with its own ethnic, historical and socio-cultural background.
Among the musical styles of Argentina, the tango is perhaps the most popular, becoming famous all around the world. The Min-On Tango Series, which launched in 1970 with a concert by the internationally acclaimed Orquestra Jose Basso, has been credited with spearheading a tango boom in Japan. The series has featured nationwide Japan tours by leading tango artists, such as the Orquesta Osvaldo Pugliese and the Orquesta Mariano Mores, on an annual basis.

The most recent tour was by the Orquesta Color Tango, conducted by the acclaimed bandoneon player Robert Alvarez, in 2011 as the forty-second installment of the Tango series. To date, this series has comprised more than 2,300 performances throughout Japan, bringing the wonder of tango music to more than 3.5 million audience members. Min-On has also brought musicians and artists in other genres of Latin music, such as Brazilian Popular Music and Latin Folk Music, from many different Latin American countries, including performances by Gal Costa and Gilberto Gil of Brazil, Los Indios of Paraguay, Los Laikas of Bolivia, among many others.

Osvaldo Pugliese from Argentina in 1979

Fabio Hager Sexteto in 2018

Gloria and Eduardo Tango Ensemble in 1992

Orquesta Julian Plaza in 1996

Orquesta Mariano Mores in 1992

Min-On Tango Series:

1970   Orchesta Jose Basso

1985


1971   Orchesta Hector Varela


1972   Florindo Sassone y Su Orquesta Tipica


1973   Francini Pontier y Su Orquesta Tipica


1974   Carlos Garcia Tango All Stars

1980


1975   Orquesta Fulvio Salamanca


1976   Orquesta Leopoldo Federico


1977   Franicini & Symphonic Tango Orchestra


1978   Orquesta Jose Livertella


1979   Orquestra Osvaldo Pugliese

1989


1981   Gran Orquesta Salgan De Lio


1982   Orquesta Carlos Lazzari


1983   Orquesta Orlando Tripoi

1995


1984   Orquestra Mariano Mores

1988

1992


1986   Orquesta Osvaldo Berlingieri


1987   Enrique Dumas y Orquesta Dragone


1990   Orquesta Juan D’Arienzo

1993


1991   Orquesta del Tango de Néstor Marconi


1991   Orquesta del Tango de Néstor Marconi


1992   Gloria and Eduardo Tango Ensemble

1994

2004


1996   Orquesta Julian Plaza


1997   Orquestra Osvaldo Piro


1998   Orquesta Mauricio Marcelli


1999   Orquesta Carlos Buono


2000   Orquesta Osvaldo Requena


2001   Raul Lavie & Sexteto Sur


2002   Orquesta El Arranque

2005


2003   Orquesta Carlos Galván


2006   Fabio Hager & Tango del Sur

2012

2018


2007   Orquesta Erica di Salvo


2008   Orquesta Fernando Marzán


2009   Osvaldo Requena and Fernando Suarez Paz


2010   Orquesta Victor Lavallen


2011   Color Tango


2013   Orquesta Nicolás Ledesma


2014   Grecos Tango Orquesta


2015   Orchestra La Juan D’Arienzo


2016   Sexteto Meridional Orchestra


2017   Horacio Romo Sexteto

Los Laikas from Bolivia in 1984

Exodus Steel Orchestra Brings the Caribbean to Japan in 2014

Alfonso Bautista Marimba Ensemble from Guatemala in 2008

Sun Brass from Panama in 2008

Latin Folk: among many others

1976   Los Indios from Republic of Paraguay


1976   Atahualpa Yupanqui from Argentina


1978   Antonio Pantaja from Argentina

1980


1981   Christina and Hugo from Argentina


1981   Ramon Veloz and Grupo “Campo Alegre” from Cuba


1981   Condorkanki from Argentina

1992

1994


1983   Cristina y Hugo from Argentina


1984   Los Laikas from Argentina

1996

2001


1985   Savia Andina & Zulma Yugar from Bolivia


1986   Jaime Torres from Argentina


1988   Sierra Maestra from Cuba


1989   Papi Basaldua and Grupo Cantares from Paraguay


1991   Costa Caribe from Venezuela


1994   Coral Y Esmeralda from Republic of Ecuador


1995   Viva! Mexico ’95 concert *performance also in 2009 and 2015


1997   Cico Cesar from Brazil


1997   Fiesta Mexicana ‘97


1998   Son Damas from Cuba


2000   Trio Los Panchos from Mexico


2001   Los Mecateros from Mexico


2003   Martín Portillo y Americanta from Paraguay


2003   Juanjo Dominguez from Argentina

2004

2005


2005   Los Mecateros from Mexico & Cheo Hurtado Ensemble from Venezuela


2008   Alfonso Bautista Marimba Ensemble from Guatemala and Sun Brass from Panama


2008   Guillermo Anderson & Ceibana from Honduras and Editus from Costa Rica


2009   Mini All Stars form Haiti


2010   Anata Bolivia

2011

2013

2015

2017


2011   Jamaica Rocks


2011   Mac Salvador, El Colectivo Palenke, and Juan Medrano “Cotito” from Peru


2005   Exodus Steel Band Orchestra from Republic of Trinidad and Tobago

2014


2013   Cesar Lopez & Havana Ensemble from Cuba


2016   GUACO from Venezuela


2017   Nicaraguan diva Katia Cardenal

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